metro
Stop blaming police, NURTW scribe replies NLC over union’s crisis
Stop blaming police, NURTW scribe replies NLC over union’s crisis
The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) led by Tajudeen Agbede has asked the Nigeria Labour Congress to stop blackmailing the police for detaining the former president of the union, Alhaji Tajudeen Baruwa.
It said on Saturday that the NLC’s indolence and lack of concern at the initial stage of the problem allowed the crisis to linger.
Acting General Secretary of the NURTW, Comrade Kayode Agbeyangi, stated this while reacting to a statement on Friday credited to the NLC in which the Congress blamed the police for the recent bloody clash in Abuja involving members of the union that led to the loss of a life.
The NLC condemned the police for arresting and detaining the former president of the union, Tajudeen Baruwa, whom the police accused of culpable homicide.
But reacting to the NLC outbursts on Saturday, Comrade Agbeyangi expressed disappointment with the leadership of NLC for coming out with such a statement.
He said the failure of leadership of the NLC to tackle the problems at the initial stage was responsible for the union’s internal crisis.
Part of the NURTW statement read, “This problem started about two years ago, the aggrieved members wrote series of letters to the NLC to intervene, but they were ignored.
“Some of these aggrieved members were expelled by Baruwa administration. Our people complained to the NLC, but nothing was done.
“When the aggrieved could not get attention of the NLC, they went to court to seek justice. Members from South-West approached the court to determine Baruwa’s eligibility for a second term in office.
“The court adjourned hearing on the matter till October with an order that all the parties in the case should maintain status quo. But Baruwa ignored the order and started organising kangaroo delegate conference.
“We brought all these illegalities to the attention of the NLC, but they turned deaf ear to the matter.”
Agbeyangi said the NLC was supporting Baruwa despite the fact that all his actions negated trade union standards
He said, “I want to challenge the NLC to tell the whole world which body supervised the Baruwa’s so-called delegate conference? Were journalists (print and electronic) invited to cover the event? Is it proper to hold such event at dead of the night?”
On the recent arrest and detention of Baruwa, Agbeyangi commended the police for doing a good job.
“It is unfortunate that the NLC has taken their support for Baruwa to another level that has blindfolded their sense of justice and fairness.
“They succeeded in ensuring that police vacated the union’s environment last week. Baruwa came out to inform the whole world that he would shell blood.
“And true to his threat, some hired thugs bombarded our secretariat and in the process a member was killed and some were wounded. And the police after investigation invited some people and those suspected to be involved in the violence were detained with the possibility of charging them to court. Unfortunately, the NLC is condemning the police for doing their jobs. The questions is: Does NLC expect the police to fold their arms and watch hoodlums take over the space?”
The NURTW scribe explained that the majority of union members aligned with the current leadership of the union under Alhaji Agbede.
“I want to inform the NLC that our people in the NURTW have moved past the Baruwa issue. What we doing now is how to organize a proper delegate conference that even the NLC will be proud of, not a kangaroo one organised in the dead of he night,” he stated.
metro
Man gets four-year jail for sexually assaulting teenager in Lagos
Man gets four-year jail for sexually assaulting teenager in Lagos
One Onyeka Ubaka has been sentenced to four years imprisonment for sexual assault and maltreatment of a 16-year-old girl in Lagos State.
He was convicted and sentenced by an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Tuesday.
Justice Rahmon Oshodi convicted him after he pleaded guilty to the two amended charges brought against him by the Lagos State Government.
Ubaka was initially arraigned on January 12, 2024, and was initially charged with defilement through one-count information filed on October 26, 2023, to which he pleaded not guilty.
In the court proceedings, the prosecution counsel, B. E. Okeowo, presented a single witness, the prosecutrix, whose testimony proved particularly significant in establishing the case against the defendant. The prosecutrix who provided a testimony, identified the defendant as her boyfriend and disclosed that she was 16 years old in 2023 and that her relationship with the defendant began in her mother’s shop.
The victim testified to the court that the defendant had multiple instances of sexual intercourse with her, which resulted in pregnancy and childbirth.
“The defendant is the father of my child. He impregnated me, and the child is five months old.”
According to PUNCH, the victim, during cross-examination, gave testimony evidence that incriminate the defendant.
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In one instance, she disclosed that the defendant took her to a bar, gave her yogurt to drink, and after she drank it, she lost consciousness. She further disclosed that she woke up in a hotel room and realised that the defendant had non-consensual sex with her and told her to keep the incident a secret.
At the court proceeding on Tuesday, Justice Oshodi disclosed to the court that the prosecution counsel, B. E. Okeowo, had informed the court that the parties had entered a plea and sentence agreement dated and filed on November 25, 2024. The court then charged and convicted the defendant on the amended charge of indecent acts and sexual assault to which the defendant pleaded guilty.
Justice Ramon, in his judgment, stated that the prosecution had established beyond a reasonable doubt the charges brought against the defendant, and found the defendant guilty of indecent act and sexual assault.
“From the evidence presented by the prosecution, I am satisfied that the essential elements of indecent acts and sexual assault have been established. There is an abundance of evidence to support this conclusion. The defendant’s guilty plea further justifies his conviction for the offences contained in the amended information.
“Therefore, I find the defendant guilty and convict him under Sections 134 and 263 of the Criminal Law Supra”, he ruled.
When asked what he had to say, the defendant begged the court to temper justice with mercy.
“Temper justice with mercy so that I will take care of my responsibility,” he appealed.
It is gathered that the defendant’s father had paid the sum of N300,000 and had undertaken to sponsor the prosecutrix first degree and take full responsibility for the child until the child is eight years old.
The prosecution counsel in her final statement asked the court to convict the defendant according to the plea bargain.
“We ask that the convict be sentenced according to the plea bargain agreement starting from the day of remand, March 23, 2023, and this will pass a message to society that sexual offenders are not tolerated in our society.
“We also ask that the name of the convict be registered in the Sexual Offenders Register”, Okeowo said.
Justice Oshodi then found the defendant guilty and sentenced him to four years imprisonment.
Man gets four-year jail for sexually assaulting teenager in Lagos
metro
Lagos taskforce raids criminal hideout, arrests 53 drug peddlers
Lagos taskforce raids criminal hideout, arrests 53 drug peddlers
CSP Adetayo Akerele, Chairman of Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit, announced the arrest of 53 suspected criminals in Gowon Estate.
Akerele said this operation aimed to boost safety, security, and environmental decorum in the area.
“The agency apprehended drug peddlers, addicts; miscreants; street urchins; illegal street traders and people of shady business dealings.
“We found various illicit drugs and narcotics, including Indian hemp, codeine syrup, and colorado,” Akerele said.
The operation brings relief to residents of Gowon Estate, Ipaja, Egbeda, Idimu, and surrounding areas affected by these criminals.
“Residents have endured trauma and safety risks due to these unauthorized squatters.
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The taskforce is committed to safeguarding residents and ridding the metropolis of individuals preying on law-abiding citizens,” Akerele said.
The agency will monitor other criminal hideouts, blackspots, and abandoned properties.
“This vigilance aims to deter individuals with sinister motives.
“These arrests demonstrate our determination to maintain a safe environment.
“We will hold every individual involved in these illegal practices accountable,” Akerele said.
The 53 suspects will face charges for narcotics-related offenses.
Residents are urged to report suspicious activities through the “See Something, Say Something” initiative.
Lagos taskforce raids criminal hideout, arrests 53 drug peddlers
metro
Nigeria Customs returns 21 stolen luxury vehicles to Canada
Nigeria Customs returns 21 stolen luxury vehicles to Canada
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has returned 21 luxury vehicles worth over N1.8 billion to Canada.
The cars were stolen and smuggled into Nigeria by some criminals.
Comptroller General of Customs, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this at a press briefing on Tuesday in Lagos.
He expressed worry at the rise in stolen vehicles and its impact on Nigeria’s economy and security.
According to Adeniyi, Nigeria has become a significant hub for stolen vehicles in West Africa, with syndicates exploiting the country’s ports and borders to bring in stolen vehicles from regions such as Europe, North America, and South America.
He highlighted data from the National Bureau of Statistics indicating that only 54% of stolen vehicles were recovered between 2013 and 2015, illustrating the scale of the problem.
“This trend undermines our legitimate automotive market, strains our security infrastructure, and damages Nigeria’s international reputation,” Adeniyi said.
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He noted that the illegal trade was affecting President Tinubu’s economic reforms, aimed to position Nigeria as a trusted hub for international commerce.
To combat this challenge, Adeniyi disclosed that the NCS had launched Operation Hot Wheels, a collaborative initiative involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Canadian authorities, and international law enforcement agencies.
The operation focused on intelligence sharing, surveillance, and interdiction to disrupt vehicle trafficking networks.
Adeniyi disclosed that the operation uncovered sophisticated smuggling techniques, including false cargo declarations and containerized shipments used to conceal stolen vehicles.
During one operation, officers intercepted a container at Onne Port in Rivers State declared to contain used vehicles and spare parts.
A physical examination revealed three undeclared 2021 Toyota Highlanders, two of which were confirmed stolen from Canada.
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